Game apparatus.



jlji'i'neases:

I PATENTED'MAY 14, 1907. J. a. MA'THBR. I GAME APPARATUS.

APPLICATION IIL ED MAY 7,1906.

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N0. 853,463. v PATBNTED MAY 14, 1907.

I J. S. MAIHBR.

GAME APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 7.190s.

cm, WASHINGTON, n. c.

No. 853,468. PATENTED MAY-14, 1907.

J. S. MATHER.

GAME APPARATUS, APPLICATION FILED MAY 7,1906.

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wszk rwz NORRIS PETERS co.. WASRINGTUN, I! ll UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH S. MATHER, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR TO MATIIER GAME COMPANY, or

ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, A CORPORATION OF MISSOURI.

GAME APPARATUS.

' Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 14, 1907.

Anplication filed May 7, 1906- Serial No. 315.517.

.To (LZZ whom it nut/y concern:

Be it known that I, Josnrn S. Marxian, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of St. Louis and State of Missouri,

have invented a new and useful Improvement in Game Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to game apparatus,

andv has for its principal objects to improve upon the general construction and arrangement of the device disclosed ,in Letters Patent of the United States, No. 749,872, granted to me on January 1.9, 1904, for game apparatus for simulating the game of base ball;

"' to improve the mechanism for manipulating and recovering the balls; and to secure other advantages hereinafter more fully appearing.

The invention consists in the parts and in the arrangements and combinations of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings which form part of this specification, and wherein like symbols refer to like parts wherever they occur, Figure 1 is a plan view of my game apparatus, certain portions thereof being shown in section .Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section on the line 22 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail sectional view 1; Fig. 4 is a plan view of certain portions shown in Fig. 3 Fig. 5 is a detail view of the disassembled parts of a base supporting bracket; Fig. 6 is a similar view of the parts of the l' atting-mechanism; Fig. 7 is a detail perspective view of a portion of the grooved inclosing strip for the transparent cover; Fig. 8 is a detail perspective view of a portion of the False bottom, showing the grooved pocket for the transparent cover and the cooperating parts for the grooved inclosing strip; Fig.

: 9 is a section on line 9-9 of Fig. 1; Fig. 10

is a section on line 10-10 of Fig. 1," Fig. 11 is a detail perspective of a catcher.

The apparatus comprises a ri-ictangular bottomboard 1, a False-bottom or field-board 2 supported. at a slight distance above said bottom-board, and a transparent cover 3, prclcrably of glass. The bottom 1 is preferably stamped up or shaped from some suitable sheet material. it is raised to a peak 4 near its center, from which point it slopes gradually in each direction. toward a gutter 5 near the margin. The outer edges of the bottom are turned. upwardly to form a suron the line of Fig.

rounding wall for the gutter and are doubled back to form a stiffening bead.

The bottom 1 is formed with raised surfaces or bosses 6 upon which rest short tubular posts 7 which support the false-bottom 2. Securing screws 8 pass through registering perforations in the false bottom 2, tubular posts 7 and bottom 1, and are provided at their lower ends with looking nuts 9.

In the cover 3 are holes 10, 1] and 12, arranged to correspond to the positions of the first, second and third bases, respectively; a hole 13 over the pitchers box; and a hole 14 above the home-plate. An additional hole 15 is arranged close to the hole 14 in the direction of the first base.

Upon the false-bottom 2 is laid oil a representation of a base ball outfield and diamond. Around the diamond is formed a series of grooves or runways 16 which incline downwardly from base to base. There is also a groove 17 extending in a downward inclination from the pitchers position to a point a short distance past the home base or catchers position, said groove being widest at a point corresponding to the batters position, and termii'iating at a hole 18.

Resiliently mounted beneath the false-bottom 2, and projecting upwardly through a slot 19 therein and a corresponding slot 20 in the cover 3, is a bat 21. The bat comprises a cylindrical rod having a flattened portion 22 in which are formed notches 23 and 24. The notches 23 are adapted to engage a notched seat 25 formed in a bracket 26. The bracket is provided with perforated cars 2-7 whereby the same may be riveted or otherwise secured to the false-bottom 2. An extcnsion 28 is formed. on the bracket 26 having a projection 29 adapted to receive a loop at one end of a spring 80. The loop at the opposite end of the spring is adapted. to be secured in the notcl'ics 24 at the lower end of the bat 21.. The bat is resiliently held with. its upper end in a forwardly inclined. position, and. can be readily removed from the apparatus when. ncrxissary. To permit of access to tho bat-supporting n'uichanism. from. beneath, an enlarged opening 231 is provided in. the bottom 1.

At points corresponding to the positions of first, second. and third bases, respectively, below the holes in. the cover 3, the false-bob ICO tom is provided with holes 32. Directly below these holes 32, on a plane slightly lower than the deepest portion or terminal of the runways 16, are mounted vertically movable base-plates 33. llhesc base-plates are slightly dished, or formed with a retaining llange for the greater portion. of their edges, and inclined. in the direction of the downward inclination of the runways 16.

The base plates are supported upon shanks 34 extending outwardly beyond the false-bottom and. formed with an upturned extension 35 slidingly mounted. in brackets secured to the false-bottom. The brackets comprise two angular sections 36 and 37 provided with perforations 38 for the passage of securing bolts 39 or other suitable securing means. The bracket-section 36 is formed with a downward bifurcated extension 40 which serves as a guide-way for the shank 34. The horizontal portions 41 of the bracket sections are provided with perforations 42 which are in vertical aline nent when the sec tions are assembled in position, and through which the extension 35 of the shank is adapted to slide. Surrounding the shank extension 35 is a coiled spring 43 which is interposed between two washers 44. These washers are loosely mounted on said shank extension and normally bear against the two hori zontal portions 41 of the bracket and against projecting pins 45 provided therefor on said shank extension. Oppositely disposed slots 46, opening into the perforations 42, are formed in the portions 41 of the bracket to permit the pins 44 to pass freely therethrough. Thus the shank is yieldingly held in normal position and permitted to move both upwardly and downwardly, as desired, the washer 44 becoming, alternately, springfollowers and abutments, as the case may be,

For convenience of location the supporting shank for the second base-plate is mounted with its extension 35 at the end of the false-.

bottom and formed with an offset portion to avoid the hole 49 in the centerfield. In this instance the bifurcated extension 40 is separated from the bracket section and independently mounted as at 40 The outfield is divided into three depressed sections representing, respectively, right, left and center fields. These depressions incline toward holes 47, 48 and 49 which correspond to the positions of the fielders. A hole 50, also within a depressed section, corresponds to the positions of shortstop. Adjacent to the respective holes are fielders 56. These fielders are so arranged as not to obstruct the direct paths from the bat toward said holes. They are, however, adapted to catch and hold a ball when struck by the bat. Preferably, the fieiders comprise catchers in the form of resilient clips curved substantially as shown in Fig. 1. The inside diameter of a clip is greater than the diameter of a ball, but the gap between its free ends is slightly less. The clips are secured in slots in the upper ends of vertically movable stems 57. The stems work in perforations in the false-botton1 l and are pi'votally con nected to operating levers 58. Springs 59 surrounding the stenils 57, and interposed between. the false-bottom 2 and operating lever 58, yieldingly hold said clips in their normal depressed position. Buttons 60 are provided for the outer ends of said operating levers.

A ball driven with sullicient force will pass between or be caught by the free ends of the resilient clip. In order to release a ball when held by one of the clips, the operating lever connected thereto is manipulated to raise said clip, whereupon the ball will roll from beneath, toward the adj aeent opening in the false-bottom, and drop therethrough onto the bottom-board and roll into the gutter where it can be recovered.

Beyond the right and left fields, respectively, openings 51 are provided in the rear wall of the false-bottom. These openings may be termed home-run opening and a ball batted through either opening is to be considered as having gone over the fence therefore, a home-run is to be scored.

In order to removably mount the trans parent cover 3 for the purpose of cleaning the playing-surface of the false-bottom 2, the side and rear walls of the false-bottom are bent outwardly at their upper edges and rebent upwardly and back over said outturnedportion, thus forming a surrounding groove or pocket 52 into which the cover can be slid. The front Wall is merely flanged outwardly as at 53 and receives a grooved inclosing stri 54 having a depending flange which is a apted to be engaged by locking buttons 55 pivotally mounted on the falsebottom.

The operation of the device is as follows: Assume that there are two layers each provided with a set of balls of a distinguishing color or size, one set of balls representing the inside team and the other the outside team; then the player holding the balls representing the outside team drops a ball through the hole 13 over the pitchers posi tion and the other player manipulates the bat so as to strike therewith the ball as it rolls down the groove 17. The ball is thus batted out into the held and rolls toward one of the holes corresponding to the fielders or short-stops positions, and thence drops through said hole onto the inclined surface of the bottom-board, over which it rolls into the gutter at the border where it may be reached by the outside player and placed by him in any of the base holes which the rules of the game suggest. As soon at the batter strikes the ball, he dro s one of the balls of the color or size indicating the inside team, through the hole 15 near the home base and the ball rolls down the groove 16 to the first base where it comes to rest on the base-plate. In order to start the ball from one base to another it is only necessary to raise the base-plate to the level of the starting point of the next groove 16. This is accomplished by manipulating the shank ofl the base-plate. In this way the several bases may be successively covered by the ball representing a base-runner, provided, of course, 1t has not been anticipated or .put' out by the batted ball being placed upon a base before it is reached by a base-runner.

When a ball of the outside team occupies a base, it can be recovered by depressing the base-plate, whereupon the ball rolls ofi upon the inclined surface of the bottom board and into the gutter.

As hereinbefore stated, a ball batted through one of the openings home-run and is so recorded. Should a ball started from the pitchers position pass the bat Without being hit, it rolls into the open ing 18 and is recorded as a strike. A ball driven into and held by when struck by the bat, is considered as caught on the fly and the batter is put out.

With the apparatus herein described the ordinary game of base ball can be closely simulated and practicallv all of the regulation plays can be made, the results depending upon the skill and control of the operator.

Obviously, the apparatus admits of considerable modification within the scope of my invention, and therefore I do not wish to be limited to the specific construction shown and described.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A game apparatus comprising a raised playing surface provided with a series of openings and with downwardly inclined grooves extending from opening to opening, respectively, and movable base-plates resiliently mounted and normally located in alinement with said openings on a plane below said playing surface and in cooperative relation to the lowermost terminal point of the grooves and adapted to be moved upwardly to a plane in cooperative relation to the uppermost starting point of'the adjacent grooves.

2. A game apparatus comprising a raised playing surface provided with downwardly inclined grooves terminating and starting, respectively, at an opening in said surface, and a movable base-plate yieldingly mounted in normal cooperative relation to the lowermost terminal point of one groove and 1 adapted to be moved upwardly into cooperative relation to the uppermost starting point of the adjacent groove, and also adapted to be depressed below said normal position.

3. A game apparatus comprising a raised 51 constitutes a playing one of the clips 56' terminal point of one playing surface provided with downwardly inclined grooves terminating and starting, respectively, at an opening in said surface, a base-plate normally located below said open 1 ing, in cooperative relation to the lowermost terminal point of one groove, and a yielding support for said base-plate, shank formed with an upturned portion slidingly mounted in fixed bearings, washers loosely mounted on said upturned shank portion adjacent to said bearings, a springsurrounding said upturned shank portion and interposed between said washers, and projections on said upturned shank portion adapted to engage said washers, whereby said baseplate can be raised into cooperative relation to the uppermost starting point of the adjacent groove, or depressed below said normal position.

4. A game apparatus comprising a raised surface provided with downwardly inclined grooves terminating and starting, respectively, at an opening in said surface, a base-plate normally located below said open ing, in cooperative relation to the lowermost groove, and a yielding support for said base-plate, comprising a shank formed with an upturnedportion, a bracket fixedly mounted with relation to said playing surface and formed with angular extensions having bearings therein for said upturned shank portion, a guide-way for said shank, washers loosely mounted 011 said upturned shank portion adjacent to said bearings, a spring surrounding said upturned shank portion and interposed between said washers, and projections on said upturned shank portion adapted to engage said washers, whereby said base-plate can be raised. into cooperative relation to the uppermost star-ting point of the adjacent groove, ,or depressed below said normal position.

5. A game apparatus comprising a raised playing surface having a slot therein, a bracket secured beneath said playing surface, said bracket having a notched seattherein, a bat pivotally and detachably mounted in said seat and projecting upwardly through said slot, and a spring for yieldingly holding said bat to its seat with its upper portion in a normal forward position.

6. A game apparatus comprising araised laying surface having a slot therein, a bracket mounted beneath said playing surface, said bracket having a body portion formed with a notched seat-and a rearward extension, a bat formed with notches in its lower portion adapted to engage said notched seat with its upper portion projecting through said slot, and a spring secured to said bracket extension and the lower end of said bat, whereby said bat is yieldingly held to its seat with its upper portion in a normally forward position.

7. A game apparatus comprising a raised comprising a a. removably mounted bat having its upper above said bases and a hole corresponding to. the home-base, a resiliently mounted. bat,

means whereby a ball may be moved to the bat, and a bottom board having inclined faces and a gutter at its border.

8. A game apparatus comprising a bottom-board, a raised false-bottom forming a playing surface and having holes therein, said false bottom also having side and end walls, the side and one end wall being formed with elongated grooves, a transparent cover slidably engaging said grooves and having a slot and base-locating openings therein, and

end portion projected above said cover through the slot therein.

9. A game apparatus comprising a bot tom-board provided with inclined surfaces and a gutter at its border, a falsebottom supported above said bottom-board, said false-bottom being formed with surrounding walls and havingits upper surface grooved and formed with holes arranged in inclined depressions and with a hole in its end wall, a

bat, and means whereby a ball may be moved toward said bat.

10. A game apparatus comprising a bottom-board provided with inclined surfaces and a gutter at its border, a falsebottom supported above said bottom-board, said false bottom being formed with surrounding walls and having its upper surface grooved. and formed with holes arranged in inclined depressions and with a hole in its end wall, a bat, and means whereby a ball may be moved toward said bat, said means comprising a downwardlyinclined groove gradually widening from its starting point to a point "in proximity to said bat.

11. A game-apparatus comprising a bottom-board provided with an inclined surface and ayg'utter' at its border, a false-bottom supported above said. bottom-board, said false-bottom forming a playing surface and having a hole therein,and a catcher adjacent to said hole.

12. A game-apparatus comprising a bottom-board provided withan inclined surface and a gutter at its border, a false-bottom supported. above said bottom-board, said false bottom forming a playing surface and having a hole therein, a catcher adjacent to said. hole, and means for manipulating said catcher.

13. A ball game apparatus comprising a playing surface, means for manipulating and forcibly moving a b all upon said playing surface and a catcher adapted. to receive said ball, said catcher comprising a resilient clip having a gap between its free ends of a width less than the diameter of the ball.

14. A ball game apparatus comprising a playing surface, means for manipulating and forcibly moving a ball upon said playing surface, a catcher adapted to receive said ball, said catcher comprising a resilient clip, and means for manipulating said clip to release the ball.

15. A ball game apparatus comprising a playing surface having a hole therein, means for manipulating and forcibly moving a ball upon said playing surface, and a vertically movable catcher mounted above said playing surface near said hole and adapted to receive said ball.

16. A ball game apparatus comprising a playing surface having a hole therein, means for manipulating and forcibly moving a ball upon said playing surface, a vertically mov able catcher mounted above said playing surface near said hole and adapted; to receive said ball, and means for manipulating said catcher to release said ball.

1.7. A ball game-apparatus comprising a playing surface having a hole therein, means for manipulating and forcibly moving a ball upon said playing surface, a vertically movable catcher yieldingly held in normal position above said playing surface near said hole and adapted to receive said ball, and means for moving said catcher from normal position to release said ball.

18. A ball game apparatus comprising a playing surface, means for manipulating and forcibly moving a ball upon said playing surface, a vertically movable catcher adapted to receive said ball, said catcher comprising a resilient clip mounted upon a vertically mov- .able stem, an operating lever connected to said stem, and a spring for holding said parts in normal position.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses at Canton, Ohio, this 1 day of May, 1906.

. JOSEPH S. MATHER. 

